Byron Shire Council’s rates and charges will increase over the next year

Along with an increase to land rates, a range of charges are forecast to change under the council’s draft budget for the 2021/22 financial year.

The Byron Shire Council chambers in Mullumbimby.

Rates in the Byron Shire were expected to increase by 2 per cent next financial year.

Based on the council’s draft budget, the rating structure would incorporate the rate pegged increase of 2 per cent which has been determined by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal.

This figure was a return to normal increases based on the rate peg, after a special rate variation which was approved by IPART expired in the 2020/21 financial year.

“The cumulative increase in rates revenue generated by the SRV over the last four financial years is now a permanent addition to council’s rating revenue base,” the council’s staff said in a report which went before the May planning meeting.

“The 2021/22 financial year will also see the continuation of new land valuations introduced … for the purposes of levying general land rates.”

The council has proposed an average rate increate of $135, or 3.4 per cent, for the average ratepayer in the coming financial year, compared to 2020/21.

The draft budget and fees schedule has proposed a 14 per cent increase to waste charges.

“Charges for 2020/21 were increased by 1.80 per cent but should have been increased further to reflect waste disposal costs so there is a catch-up proposed for 2021/22,” staff said in the report.

Water access charges are set to increase by about 3.2 per cent while water usage charges would increase by 2.9 per cent.

The council has proposed to increase sewerage charges by 3 per cent and its stormwater charge, which was “a regulated charge that has not changed over the last 15 years”, was set to remain the same.

The council’s draft budget has set out a total of $61.86 million worth of capital works, including about $24 million for road and drainage projects.

A plan to borrow $12 million for a proposed bioenergy plant at the Byron Wetlands has also been earmarked.

At the May 13 planning meeting, councillors resolved to endorse the draft budget estimates, rates and charges and operational plan.

Those documents have been placed on public exhibition until June 11.